Caladium plant named ‘Flatter Me’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Flatter Me’, characterized by its intermediate height, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderately rapid growth rate; glossy fancy-type leaves with dark green background color with variable green and grey green-colored blotches and mottling and red to red purple-colored venation and areas surrounding the veins; and above average tolerance to  Xanthomonas  Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FLATTER ME’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Flatter Me’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2007 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Mt. Everest’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,764, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Flatter Me’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Flatter Me’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Intermediate in height, upright and uniformly mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderately rapid growth rate.     -   3. Glossy fancy-type leaves with dark green background color         with variable green and grey green-colored blotches and mottling         and red to red purple-colored venation and areas surrounding the         veins.     -   4. Above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Mt. Everest’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘Mt.         Everest’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium have fancy type leaves whereas         plants of ‘Mt. Everest’ have strap (or lance) type leaves.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are glossy in luster         whereas leaves of ‘Mt. Everest’ are mostly dull in luster.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Mt. Everest’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘Mt. Everest’ are creamy white to grey green         in color with dark green-colored margins and cream to pinkish         red-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘John Peed’, in leaf color as leaves of ‘John Peed’ have dark red-colored centers and red-colored venation with dark green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Raspberry Moon’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,069. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Raspberry Moon’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of         ‘Raspberry Moon’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are glossy in luster         whereas leaves of ‘Raspberry Moon’ are mostly dull in luster.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Raspberry Moon’ differ in         leaf color as leaves of ‘Raspberry Moon’ are lime green in color         with random dark green and raspberry red-colored coalescing         spots and splotches.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Frieda Hemple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are glossy in luster         whereas leaves of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are mostly dull in luster.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are medium green in color         with bright red-colored centers and venation.     -   3. Plant of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are dark         brownish green, close to black, in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Flatter Me’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse (tuber not de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Mt. Everest’ (right), ‘Flatter Me’ (center) and the male parent, ‘John Peed’ (left).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’ (left), ‘Flatter Me’ (center) and ‘Raspberry Moon’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Flatter Me’ grown in containers; the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Flatter Me’ grown in an open field.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Flatter Me’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from about 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were eleven weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were eight months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Flatter Me’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Mt. Everest’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,764.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;             individual segments ovate to elliptic in shape. Height:             About 3 cm. Diameter: About 4.2 cm to 6.2 cm. Segment             height: About 2 cm to 2.9 cm. Segment diameter: About 2.3 cm             to 2.7 cm. Axillary buds, height: About 5 mm. Texture:             Thick, starchy. Color: Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close             to 159C to 159D; outer skin, close to 199B to 199C.             Epidermis, dried: Close to 200A. Cortical tissue: Close to             8D. Axillary buds: Close to 155D and 164D. Root description:             Thick, fleshy contractile roots; color, close to 155C and             199A. Rooting habit: Medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate in height, upright and             uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous and dense growth             habit; moderately rapid growth rate, potted plants in             finished or saleable form in about eleven weeks after             planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or             more growing points on tubers; petioles mostly upright and             outwardly leaning with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 30 cm to 39 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 35 cm to 41 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About two to three develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 4             cm to 5.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Narrowly             elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color,             inner surface: Close to 155C; colors and patterns on the             outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Color, outer             surface: Close to 159C and 182D tinged with close to 147C;             stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 200B tinged             with close to 147B; with development, color becoming closer             to 200D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 16 cm to 25             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants, flattened.—About 11.5             cm to 18 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate, cordate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat or slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Glaucous, dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Background color: Close to 147A. Midvein and             primary venation: Close to 187B. Areas surrounding venation:             Close to 187C and 183A. Interveinal areas: Blotches and             mottling, close to 146B to 146C, 194B, 194C and 194D.             Margins: Close to 147A. Basal notch: Close to 187B. Point of             petiole attachment: Close to N186C. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Background color: Close to 191A tinged with close             to 189A. Midvein and primary venation: Close to 182B. Areas             surrounding venation: Close to 186A and 185C. Interveinal             areas: Close to 193A and close to 191A tinged with close to             189A. Margins: Close to 187A. Basal notch: Close to 187B.             Point of petiole attachment: Close to N186C. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to 147A.             Midvein and primary venation: Close to 187B. Areas             surrounding venation: Close to 187C, 183A and 184A.             Interveinal areas: Blotches and mottling, close to 146B to             146C, 195C, 196B and 194B to 194C. Margins: Close to 147A.             Basal notch: Close to N186C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Background color: Close to 191 A tinged with close             to 189A. Midvein and primary venation: Close to 182B to             182C; distally, close to 147C. Areas surrounding venation:             Close to 186A and 185C. Interveinal areas: Close to 193A to             193B, close to 191B and close to 191A tinged with close to             189A. Margins: Close to 187A. Basal notch: Close to N186C.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with             development, outwardly leaning; flexible. Length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 18 cm to 27 cm.             Diameter, distally, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             3.5 mm to 4 mm. Diameter, proximally, shadehouse-grown             potted plants: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; glaucous. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants:             Close to N170D, 177D and 182D, streaked, tessellated and             stippled with close to 200B and 177A; below the leaf and             petiole junction, close to N170D and 182D. Wing length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3 cm to 4.5 cm. Wing             diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 5 mm to             8 mm. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Luster, inner and outer surfaces: Dull to slightly glossy.             Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Inner surface:             Close to N155C; colors and patterns on the outer surface are             visible on the inner surface. Outer surface: Close to 159C             and close to 182D tinged with close to 147C, stippled,             streaked and tessellated with close to 200B tinged with             close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence initiation and development     have not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot     and average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler     zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a     cool dry environment overwinter for re-planting the following     spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Flatter Me’ as illustrated and described. 